DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Car Show Pictures...Any Suggestions?
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 24 of 24, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 06/19/2004 02:33:17 PM · #1
This car show was going on in town this morning, and I have no idea how to really shoot cars (that seems like a more manly domain). I took a few while waiting for what I really went to shoot, so these are unrelated to my newspaper shot. There were dozens of cars, but I only shot about ten because I didn't really know how to approach it. They were all parked so close together and with people/trash cans/other annoyances betwixt and between. Anyway, long story short, here's what I came up with. Any suggestions on classic car photography? Car shows happen down here a lot. I am sure I'll have an opportunity again to shoot cars like these. Any advice is appreciated. :o)

06/19/2004 03:50:03 PM · #2
Thanks for your suggestion, Kosta...I wish I could have picked up the cars and moved them to a less distracting environment, but I didn't have that option! ;o)

BTW...anyone notice the convicts reflected in one of the pictures? My kids thought that was hilarious.
 06/19/2004 03:58:38 PM · #3
Well crap... had I know, we could have met up. I was there this morning as well. I was the geek with the big nikon and the green Lowe Pro Mini Tracker on my back. Your shots look good. I took a similar approach and shot bits and pieces of the cars. I will post my results when I've done processing them.
 06/19/2004 04:01:21 PM · #4
Well now I guess you'll be able to figure out which shot is mine in one of the upcoming challenges.... ;o)

I'm glad we went early. We were there at about 9:15 and stayed an hour. It wasn't crowded yet, the weather was cool, and the sun was shining. Now, of course, it's comin' a flood!

Can't wait to see your shots. I'd post more of the actual event, but that would let the cat out of the bag! :o)
06/19/2004 04:07:57 PM · #5
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Thanks for your suggestion, Kosta...I wish I could have picked up the cars and moved them to a less distracting environment, but I didn't have that option! ;o)

BTW...anyone notice the convicts reflected in one of the pictures? My kids thought that was hilarious.


In the second photo, it did look like a buch of clowns or prisoners or something. :)

Great shots. I think the close up shots at car shows are the best way to go...just because of the reflections.

Message edited by author 2004-06-19 16:12:15.
 06/19/2004 05:18:10 PM · #6
Hi Lauriel,

You have the right idea as to angles and not always trying to capture the whole car in the shot, especially when there are a ton of distractions in the area.

Here are a few shots I took yesterday afternoon at the Cruising Grand weekly nostalgia car show here in Escondido, CA:


Style


Pickup in Flames


Lowered Chevy

These cars are an art form and reflect a passion.
(as does photographing them).


06/19/2004 05:29:22 PM · #7
Those are beautiful, Brad. I really love to look at classic cars...even though I have no idea most of the time what kind of car I am looking at! I know that the car owners are as passionate about them as I am about my own children, and would love to learn how to photograph them in such a way that shows that love and respect. Thanks for sharing your shots with me!
 06/19/2004 05:53:09 PM · #8
Yup, you've definitely got the right idea. Can your camera take a polarising filter? It would help cut out the reflections.

I have to point you in the direction of scab-lab. Gary has some superb examples of this type of photography in his portfolio and DeviantArt gallery.
 06/19/2004 05:54:31 PM · #9
Originally posted by bod:
Yup, you've definitely got the right idea. Can your camera take a polarising filter? It would help cut out the reflections.

I have to point you in the direction of scab-lab. Gary has some superb examples of this type of photography in his portfolio and DeviantArt gallery.


Thanks for the example! I did have a polarizer on it, believe it or not. It's older, maybe I should spring for a new one! :o)
 06/19/2004 06:14:28 PM · #10
I have tried using my PL filter shooting these classics, and you can selectively cut the reflections off areas, but not off all due to the large number of different angles.
Cut glare here, put it back there kind of thing.
 06/19/2004 06:30:28 PM · #11
Car show workup

What I have processed thus far.
 06/19/2004 06:37:32 PM · #12
I love taking pics at car shows. The hardest part is to compose the shot so that there no people or booths, etc., behind the car, and no reflections of people or distracting objects.

What I try to do when I see a car that I want to photograph is to look all around it to see if I can get an angle on it that won't have a distracting reflection or background. This is almost impossible to do most of the time. Although, I didn't get lucky with this shot at a show... It was all by itself in a wooded area with nobody near it so I was able to snap the entire car. The bad part is, I edited the original (newbie at that time) and did all kinds of things in PS to it. :(



So if I can't find a good view of the car, then instead I'll try to zoom in on some part of it like you did in your last shot of the spare tire. Great shot.

Another thing to remember is try to get a low angle on the car like Scablab did on his shots. That way it doesn't look like a "snap shot" kind of thing.

Great shots!
 06/19/2004 06:45:05 PM · #13
Wow, Danny, those are great!!! Isn't it amazing what experience does for those shots! Guess it helps to know what you are doing! :o)

Chris...thanks for the suggestions. The angles are much better in the ones you guys have posted...I suffer from that soccer mom snapshot disease still...but I'm hopefully building up a little immunity at a time! :o)
 06/19/2004 06:45:57 PM · #14
Originally posted by crabappl3:
Car show workup

What I have processed thus far.


Wow, awesome shots!! On the corvette shot looks like you blurred the "C" and "e" and the rest of it on purpose? Great idea looks good. The "Chevelle SS" is great to. The yellow car with the engine showing is cool. Amazing that you didn't get your reflecion showing on that crome hub cap.

Nice set of shots!
06/19/2004 06:55:35 PM · #15
My mom (laurielblack) told me to post my pictures from the car show today. I am 10 years old, so don't expect really good pictures. I like them. Mom must like them too or she wouldn't want me to show them.

Andre's Pictures

PS mom helped me put them in the computer along with some i took last night. She is sitting here showing me how to do this.

[laurielblack enters...] That's my boy! Isn't it amazing when a 10 year old has better eyes for this stuff????!!! [laurielblack exits...]
 06/19/2004 07:29:17 PM · #16
Originally posted by crabappl3:
Car show workup

What I have processed thus far.


Awesome Crab, I take the same approach. You got some great shots. There are so many sweet details that can be found at a car show. Focusing on the lines and angles, details, and colors work real nice. I also try to shoot from a low angle and get some sky, makes it look the car is by itself instead of being jammed together with other cars. When you find a car you like, work your way around the entire vehicle, really scope it out. Experiment and try some unique angles, you'll get some great shots :)

Thaks Bod for great words and mention ;)
 06/19/2004 07:42:12 PM · #17
Originally posted by andreblack:
My mom (laurielblack) told me to post my pictures from the car show today. I am 10 years old, so don't expect really good pictures. I like them. Mom must like them too or she wouldn't want me to show them.

Andre's Pictures

PS mom helped me put them in the computer along with some i took last night. She is sitting here showing me how to do this.

[laurielblack enters...] That's my boy! Isn't it amazing when a 10 year old has better eyes for this stuff????!!! [laurielblack exits...]

Great pics Andre, looks like you have a future as a fotog :) when I was 10 my dad had a box brownie and I wasn't allowed to touch it. You already have a good eye for composition. Is the P32 your moms old cam?
btw, I really like the 1st action man pic :)
 06/19/2004 08:13:57 PM · #18
Originally posted by scab-lab:
...There are so many sweet details that can be found at a car show. Focusing on the lines and angles, details, and colors work real nice....

 06/19/2004 08:24:17 PM · #19
Keep in mind your audience when shooting car shows. I find that it's best not to get too "artsy" with your shots. From a photographers view, these types of shots are great, but to the average auto enthusiast, a macro shot of an emblem or close up of panel lines is useless. People who go to car shows (and those that look at car show pictures) aren't looking for artistry. They want to see the whole car, especially if they weren't able to go to the event. I would hate to see coverage of an event only to find obscure pictures. Show the whole car. Make sure to shoot each car from several angles (front, back, sides, 3/4 front, and 3/4 rear). Also remember to look at engines and interiors. Shooting at a low angle (like ankle height) also yields some nice shot that emphasize the car and creat an interesting viewpoint. Another thing I like to do is get alot of people in the shots. The owners of these vehicles are often just as important as the cars themselves.
 06/19/2004 09:53:15 PM · #20




These were taken at the MECA Tunes and Tones Car Stereo Competition, my my hubby got first place and best of show. Our truck is the S10 xtreme. There are a bunch more pics HERE
If anyone's interested. I was asked by the owner of the Pub it was held at to take some pics for his web site. The photo's kind of stink, but the weather was so horrible. Bad day for taking pics. ~Heather~
 06/19/2004 10:22:51 PM · #21
Yeah, Andre's got my old camera...he's going to be a natural I'm afraid! ;o)

Thanks for all your tips and suggestions. We will be looking for more cars to shoot...around here they're pretty plentiful! :o)
 06/19/2004 10:54:02 PM · #22
They look pretty good to me.

Sometimes they pack 'em in so tight you have to make do with what you can take.

Like this from the San Diego Auto Musem:


Or get the right dof to get all those people out.

2004 San Diego International Autoshow:
06/20/2004 12:53:22 AM · #23
Originally posted by laurielblack:
Those are beautiful, Brad. I really love to look at classic cars...even though I have no idea most of the time what kind of car I am looking at! I know that the car owners are as passionate about them as I am about my own children, and would love to learn how to photograph them in such a way that shows that love and respect. Thanks for sharing your shots with me!


Laurie -- come on out and live with us for a while and you will get all you want of classic cars! I am surrounded by them and the guys who live for them (including my husband). I am very frustrated, too, by the reflections problem, which is what promted me to ask about relfections in a thread last week. Aren't they just beuatiful, though? The lines and forms in these cars are exquisite.
I think I've taken more pictures of my husband's '57 than any other one thing!! It just screams for it's parts to be photographed!!

Message edited by author 2004-06-20 00:55:03.
 06/20/2004 01:41:31 AM · #24
Notice how low he got to the ground on these shots, they looks so cool with the classics.car show pics.
Yours are cool too laurie.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 07/17/2025 01:29:08 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 07/17/2025 01:29:08 PM EDT.